Dutch rider Puck Pieterse claimed a stunning victory in stage 4 of the Tour de France Femmes on Wednesday, narrowly edging out race leader Demi Vollering in a dramatic photo finish that left fans on the edge of their seats.

Rookie road rider Puck Pieterse clung on to win stage four of the women's Tour de France at Liege on Wednesday, with Demi Vollering taking second in a photo finish to conserve the yellow jersey.

It was the first-ever road race victory for the 22-year-old cross-discipline star Pieterse, competing in her first Tour de France.

Pieterse's Breakthrough Victory

The result lifted the Dutch rider to second overall and earned her both the best young rider's white jersey and the polka dot climb jersey.

Kasia Niewiadoma of Poland was with the Dutch duo as they entered the final kilometre of a race that started in Valkenberg in the Netherlands. She launched the dash early, with the trio hitting 57km/h after a hilly day.

Vollering's Strategy And The Final Dash

Defending Tour de France champion Vollering allowed Pieterse to open a small lead before timing her run to the line slightly wrong.

Stage five takes the Tour into France on Thursday with Vollering in yellow, Pieterse second overall at 22 seconds back, and Niewiadoma third, another 12 seconds behind.

Olympic road race champion Kristen Faulkner of the United States is fourth at 47 seconds.

The Tour finishes on Sunday with one of cycling's most challenging climbs up Alpe d'Huez.